Download - Paul Mundy Putting it in the right order 12 ways of ordering information A Ж Z 1 2 B X Ω غ Ỡ
Paul Mundy www.mamud.com
Putting it in the right order
12 ways of ordering information
A ЖZ1
2BX Ω
غ
Ỡ
When to use these orders
In lists In tables and figures To structure a story To structure a manuscript
13 ways of ordering information1. Alphabetical2. Importance3. Logical4. Chronological5. Reverse
chronological6. Result and cause7. Compare and
contrast
8. Categorical9. Spatial10. General to specific11. Specific to general12. Questions and
answers13. Familiar to
unfamiliar
1 Alphabetical
From A to Z Eg, phone directory, glossary, list of
references
A… B… C…
2 Importance
Most important first, then less important
Eg, news story, inverted pyramid
Transition words: first, second, also, finally, in addition, equally important, more or less importantly
Important!
Less important
Detail
More detail
3 Logical
From cause to effect X causes Y
which causes Z We did X
which resulted in Ywhich resulted in Z
Transition words: because, since, for, so, as a result, consequently, thus, hence, therefore
X
Y
Z
4 Chronological
In the order things happened Eg, materials & methods in scientific paper Eg, tell story in order it happened First this happened, then this, then that… Transition words: before, after, first, next,
then, when, finally, while, as, during, earlier, later, meanwhile
1... 2... 3…
5 Reverse chronological
In the reverse order that things happened
Tell the end first Say what happened before
that Then say what happened
before that E.g. The Ancestor’s Tale
(Richard Dawkin) Transition words: before,
previously, to prepare for, prior to
3... 2... 1…
6 Result and cause
Tell the end first Then go back to the beginning and tell events
that led up to it Like a detective story – starts with crime,
then shows how the crime was committed Transition words: back in, how did this
happen?, it was not always like this
3... 1... 2…
7 Compare and contrast
Shows how two or more items are similar or different Eg, two villages (with and without intervention) Eg, two alternative approaches Transition words:
Similarities: also, additionally, just as, as if, as though, like, similarly
Differences: but, yet, only, although, whereas, in contrast, conversely, however, on the other hand, rather, instead, in spite of, nevertheless
X Y
8 Categorical
Divide your subject into categories, then describe each one in turn
Eg, situation in towns, situation in rural areas Eg, marketing of goats, marketing of cattle Transition words: here, there, in X, in Y,
larger, smaller
9 Spatial
A tour from one place to another Eg, situation in Maharasthra, in Uttaranchal,
in Karnataka Eg, description of a farm Transition words: above, below, beside,
nearby, beyond, inside, outside
10 General to specific From general principle to individual case Transition words: for example, such as, like,
namely, for instance, that is, in fact, in other words, indeed
11 Specific to general
From individual case to general principle Transition words: is an example of, shows
that, this means that
12 Questions and answers
Easy to write and read Pose questions that audience will ask May not be adaptable to topic or medium Transition words: who… he/she, what… it,
where… there, when… on/at/ago, why… because, how… by, how much... about
Q?→A!
13 Familiar to unfamiliar
Use a familiar situation or item to explain a new idea
Transition words: is like, is similar to, just as, unlike, compared with
When to use these orders
In lists In tables and figures To structure a story To structure a manuscript